Support for Senior Citizen Counseling in the Senior and Care Support Centers of Lower Saxony (SPN)

The funding of senior counseling in the Senior and Care Support Centers of Lower Saxony (SPN) supports municipalities and non-profit organizations in the establishment, operation, and digitalization of counseling centers for older adults. The SPN provide neutral information, housing counseling, neighborhood assistance, and digital services regardless of care level, aimed at maintaining independence and quality of life in old age. Up to 70 percent of eligible expenses are funded, and up to 80 percent for municipal authorities, with a maximum of 40,000 euros per year. Applications can be submitted continuously until December 31, 2026, to the Lower Saxony State Office for Social Affairs, Youth and Family.

Eligible to apply are districts, independent cities (including the Region and State Capital Hanover as well as the City of Göttingen), cities, municipalities, and collective municipalities belonging to districts and regions, as well as non-profit legally recognized private law associations in Lower Saxony. A prerequisite for approval is proof of personnel and material capacities, barrier-free access to the premises, as well as regular fixed consultation and opening hours with personal, telephone, and email counseling. The support centers must cover a broad spectrum – from neutral counseling and public relations to outreach housing counseling, digital counseling formats, and the promotion of neighborhood and community assistance. Close cooperation with volunteer agencies, multigenerational houses, and senior representatives is also mandatory. Funding priorities focus on personnel costs, material expenses, and digitalization measures.